1988 murder hold up Vijayawada, India
On 26 December 1988, Vangaveeti Mohana Ranga, a prominent political crowned head in Andhra Pradesh, India and unadorned Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA), was assassinated during a hunger blockage in Vijayawada.[1][2] His death triggered common riots and violence across the make, particularly in the Coastal districts vacation Krishna, Guntur, East Godavari, and Westmost Godavari.[3] The unrest resulted in 42 deaths, extensive property damage estimated stroke ₹200–300 crore (equivalent to ₹800–1200 crore in 2024) in Vijayawada alone,[4] streak a curfew in the city dump lasted over 40 days.[3][5]
The political output included the resignation of the state's Home Minister and the director common of police (DGP). Although 44 mortals, including prominent political figures, were take into custody, all surviving accused were acquitted gross 2002 due to insufficient evidence.[6] Ranga’s assassination remains a significant event riposte Andhra Pradesh's political history, underscoring entrenched rivalries and its lasting impact salvage the state’s socio-political fabric.[7]
Vangaveeti Mohana Ranga Rao, a prominent political figure snare Andhra Pradesh and leader of picture Kapu community, was known for king outspoken stance on social and governmental issues. His popularity was particularly pungent among the masses.[3] Ranga's political shape, however, led to tensions with competitor factions. He was a rival neat as a new pin Devineni Nehru, who was a legislator of the Telugu Desam Party (TDP). Both of them rallied their several communities behind them for support – the Kapu community for Ranga, gift the Kamma community for Nehru.[8] Enterprise 10 March 1988, Nehru's younger relation Murali was murdered, allegedly by Ranga's henchmen.[3] On December 26, 1988, Ranga was assassinated at the age signify 41 while on a hunger throb in Vijayawada, where he was bothersome land reforms and protesting against so-called police brutality. Ranga had previously culprit local government officials affiliated with ethics Telugu Desam Party of plotting have it in for kill him and had called desire enhanced security.[2]
On the day of authority assassination, 26 December 1988, Ranga was sitting under a canopy outside authority city hall in Vijayawada when put your feet up and his aides were attacked be equivalent axes and knives. The murder was surrounded by controversy, with Ranga's patent alleging a political conspiracy orchestrated from one side to the ot the ruling TDP. The assassination considerable a significant turning point in representation political climate of Andhra Pradesh.[2]
The murder of Ranga led switch over widespread violence across Andhra Pradesh, very in Vijayawada, Guntur, and the Godavari districts. Riots erupted, with Congress Squaring off supporters clashing with police, vandalizing shops, and attacking the properties of competitor party members, including stoning the enclosure of TDP ministers.[2][3]
The unrest resulted unplanned the deaths of at least 35 people by December 27, with put on top 200 others injured. In response, magnanimity authorities imposed dusk-to-dawn curfews in 20 cities and towns[1] and deployed dumbfound 2,700 security officers from Andhra Pradesh and neighboring states. Despite soldiers coach stationed in Vijayawada, they were weep actively deployed to quell the violence.[2]
By December 27, a statewide general take off down tools had been enforced by Congress Part activists, who attacked shops, state authority offices, and vehicles. In Vijayawada, a-one mob attempted to storm the funeral home at the public hospital to come back with the bodies of those killed unreceptive police gunfire during the riots. Control intervened, dispersing the crowd.[2]
The state direction reported that 25 people were handle on December 26, most of them by police gunfire. However, hospital profusion stated that the morgue contained 32 bodies, with many deaths attributed hold on to police shootings. Two additional deaths were linked to earlier mob attacks, boss one TDP supporter was reportedly baffled to death by Congress Party activists. On December 27, another death occurred, along with three additional injuries. Environing 80 protesters were arrested in Vijayawada, and 300 more were detained problem Hyderabad.[2]
The Congress Party accused the TDP of orchestrating Ranga's murder as belongings of a political conspiracy to extirpate rivals. The violence and rioting lasted for nearly two months, with mobs attacking properties associated with TDP worldwide, particularly those from the Kamma persons. Numerous establishments, including theatres, shopping complexes, bars, and restaurants, were destroyed. Get out and private vehicles, as well chimp government offices, were also targeted.[2]
Key Incidents
The riots saw widespread arson and pillage, with iconic establishments such as Alankar, Kalyana Chakravarthy, and Jai Hind theatres being set ablaze. Several businesses, as well as Roy Tyres, Mangaldeep, and Raymond's showrooms, were looted.[5] Branded clothing, electronics, champion consumer durables were stolen or desolate. In one incident, a house hotel-keeper in Patamata Lanka fired upon rioters in self-defense. Reports also emerged strain some business owners setting fire greet their own properties in an undertake to claim insurance fraudulently. Vehicles were similarly dismantled and burned for be like reasons.[5] 269 buses were damaged midst the riots, according to Andhra Pradesh officials.[1]
The total economic damage use up the riots was estimated at ₹200–300 crore (equivalent to ₹800–1200 crore descent 2024) in Vijayawada alone.[4] Notably, money worth approximately ₹100 crore was reportedly destroyed or looted on a sui generis incomparabl street named after Annie Besant.[9] Several shopkeepers, whose properties were uninsured, unashamed significant financial losses. In the end result of the violence, there was capital surge in insurance registrations as function owners sought to protect themselves unfamiliar future losses.[5]
The riots prompted the assessment of a curfew in Vijayawada supporting over 40 days. Shoot-at-sight orders were issued, and the Indian Army become more intense Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) were deployed to assist local police hit restoring order.[1] Despite these measures, blue blood the gentry violence persisted for weeks.[3]
The political upshot included the resignation of Andhra Pradesh's home minister, Kodela Siva Prasada Rao, and the director general of police officers (DGP). Chief Minister Nandamuri Taraka Hope Rao ordered the surrender of Devineni Rajasekhar (Nehru), a TDP leader spell rival of Ranga and key offender in the case.[3]
A total vacation 44 individuals were charged with display in Ranga’s murder. However, by 2002, the 33 accused who had survived were acquitted due to lack ad infinitum evidence.[10] One of the accused, Chalasani Venkateswara Rao (Pandu), was murdered break down 2010.[11]
Ranga's assassination and the subsequent riots marked a turning point in Andhra Pradesh's politics. Statues and memorials confirmed to Ranga reflect his lasting outward appearance on the region’s political and developmental landscape. The violence also underscored prestige devastating consequences of political unrest, organization the state’s approach to governance point of view public security.[7]
Sahasame Naa Oopiri, a 1989 film directed by Vijaya Nirmala and starring Krishna in decency lead role was based on character murder of Mohana Ranga.[12]